Automatic renewal rules in West Virginia

We read W. Va. Code St. R. § 142-13 on the state's official site and list what it requires below. A summary leaves out detail; the linked text is the authority.

The key phrases, copied from the official text:

• “A member may cancel a contract before the fourth business day after the date on which the contract is executed by notifying the health spa of the cancellation in writing.” (W. Va. Code St. R. § 142-13-5.1)
• “Written notification is considered given if the notification is mailed to the home office of the health spa and postmarked not later than midnight of the third business day after execution of the contract.” (W. Va. Code St. R. § 142-13-5.1)
• “No health spa contract can be sold for a period of time greater than two years.” (W. Va. Code St. R. § 142-13-4.2)

The cancellation route differs by company; see Gym memberships, Planet Fitness, LA Fitness and Crunch Fitness for the details we hold.

1. 1

   Note how and when you agreed

   Find the email or contract that confirmed the subscription and note the next renewal date, so you know how much time you have.

2. 2

   Cancel the way the law allows

   A gym member may cancel in writing before the fourth business day after signing; a notice mailed to the spa's home office and postmarked by midnight of the third business day counts. Closure, relocation, death or disability cancellations are by written notice by mail. Save the confirmation screen or email.

3. 3

   Put it in writing as well

   W. Va. Code St. R. § 142-13 covers only health spa (gym) contracts, so cite it only if your contract is one of them. Write to the business, cite W. Va. Code St. R. § 142-13 and ask for written confirmation. You can build the letter with the free letter template.

4. 4

   If the charges continue

   Show the business your proof and the statute, then dispute the charge with your card issuer. What to do if a company keeps charging you walks through it.

Outside health spa (gym) contracts, West Virginia law sets no special cancellation route, so your contract's terms apply. A letter sent with tracking adds what an online click often lacks: a dated, third-party record that you asked to cancel, which card issuers and state consumer offices can check.

See certified mail for cancellations for the proof each mail service gives you.

The federal Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act requires online sellers using automatic renewals to provide simple mechanisms to stop recurring charges. The FTC's 2024 click-to-cancel amendments are not in force: on July 8, 2025 the Eighth Circuit vacated them (Custom Communications, Inc. v. FTC, No. 24-3137), on February 12, 2026, in a rule effective that day, the FTC recodified its Negative Option Rule "as it existed before the effective date" of the 2024 amendments (91 FR 6507), and on March 13, 2026 it asked for public comment on "the need for amendments" (91 FR 12318). Our state-by-state overview and the FTC click-to-cancel guide have the details.